Location
The Charlotte Harbor is located in west central Florida,
between Sarasota & Fort Myers, the closet airports unless
you have your own plane is Sarasota/Bradenton Airport (closer
than RSW (regional southwest) in Fort Myers or Tampa.
Accommodations:
We are suggesting our FAOL attendees stay at the Veranda Inn
of Venice ( http://www.verandainn.com ). They will give us a
group/corportate rate of $84.00 plus tax/double occupancy and they
will take credit card reservations over the phone. Venice only
has a total of 38 rooms and some are already booked, but there
should be room for 30 to 40 attendees. Phone 941-484-9559 for
the Veranda Inn of Venice. Any problems ask for Sandy. Each first floor
room has a frig, microwave and coffee maker, with 2 double
beds in each room overlooking the pool; so for 2 persons it
would be $42.00/night/person plus tax. Lowest rate for "the
season" around here. Facility has a great little cafe which
serves breakfast and lunch; dinner only on the weekend. There
are a number of other restaurants within a 5 to 10 minute walk
or drive of the accomodations. FAOLers must say their reservation
is for the Fly Anglers Online Fish-In to qualify for the corporate
rate. They have a nice inner courtyard where we can also gather
for whatever. There is also a nice Day's Inn, but there are too
many hoops to jump through to get reservations, they don't take
any by phone.
Camping/RV
There are three campgrounds close by:
Venice Campground Inc - 6.9 miles E - 4085 E Venice Ave, Venice, 34292 - (941) 488-0850
Cook's Sportland Inc - 5.5 miles SE - 4419 Tamiami TRL S, Venice, 34293 - (941) 493-0025
Ramblers Rest LLC - 8.4 miles E - 1300 N River Rd, Venice, 34293 - (941) 493-4354
However, campground rates are expensive, (averaging $48 per night)
in fact, you can stay two people to a room at the Veranda Inn
cheaper than camping.
Fishing
March in the Harbor is usually redfish, seatrout,
snook, along with cobia, jack crevalle, ladyfish,
pompano, sheepshead & spanish mackeral with the
possibility of small tarpon in the canals and
tripletail at the buoys. The pirates agreed to
try to fish Charlotte Harbor/Pine Island Sound/Lemon
Bay. since it's a little farther south and a few
degress warmer! Since the accomodations are in Venice,
the initial fishing grounds will mosy likely be Lemon
Bay off of Manasota Key, where there is beach on the
gulf to fish if the flats aren't producing, or if the
winds are too strong and vice versa. That's Sarasota
County Parks & Recreation areas, for info:
http://www.sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu. Access is usually
from Blind Pass Beach or Middle Beach & there's also canoe
launch areas. At the southern end of the Island there is
Stump Pass State Beach Park with gulf fishing accesss and
some flats. More on that when we have more information.
As for tackle, fly rods need to be at least a 7 wt
with as much backing as possible. You never know
what is going to be at the other end of that fly
rod. Hook a 35 lb cobia and I promise you will
have a fight to remember. We may have small Tarpon
around then. Snook can take a good portion of your
line if they are of the larger kind. The colder the
water the less they will fight. Redfish are just
stubborn and love to bow their heads and pull. Black
Drum are terrific fighters and I have destroyed bass
equipment catching them. Jack Crevalle will
tire you out. Catch 3 or 4 of those monsters
at about 5 lb each and you find a place to sit
down. Fly rods and Jack Crevalle are a fun time,
they pull like a freight train. Hook one over 10
lbs and look out, bragging rights and a big head
will be yours that night at the Tie and Lie. Please
remember you will be fishing in less that 5 feet
of water most of the time. Heavy weighted flies
are not necessary.
As for flies, Clousers, Deceivers, Shrimp imitations,
Crab imitations, top water flies (aka bass flies),
Al's Shrimpf fly, spoon imitations, and the Palmet
Special (tie it on 1/0 or smaller hook) are the
best flies. I personally have the best luck with
clousers, the color varies with the water
conditions. There are a couple good tackle shops
nearby with materials so if you find you don't
have what is working we can always tie more.
Fish-in Schedule of Events
We don't have a set schedule yet, will post one
as soon as we have a better idea of who all is
coming. However Mike Franz-MikeMV from Naples,
will be attending and he has offered some casting
classes/tune-ups if folks need them, they were well
received by all at the 2004 Fish-In.
Fishing licenses for non residents:
Freshwater: 7-day permit, $16.50
Children under 16 are exempt, also Georgia residents
65 or older who have in their possession an honorary
combination hunting fishing certificate do not need
a Florida license.
Saltwater: 3-day permit, $6.50, 7 -Day $16.50, Snook
permit is an additional $2.00
Children under 16 are exempt
To obtain a license, follow this
link to information on buying your license directly
over the internet. *(A $2.25 + 2.5% surcharge of total
sale per person will be added to your purchase.)
Dial toll-free, either 1-888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356)
or 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356) from anywhere in the
United States or Canada. (A $3.25 + 2.5% surcharge of
total sale per person will be added to your purchase)
You can also buy your license at most bait shops for
an additional fee of $.50.
As with all FAOL events, there are no charges or
fees for attending and everyone is welcome.
You are responsible for your own reservations,
transportation and food. FAOL does not make any
arrangements for you.
We'd love to meet you, fish with you, and share
our wonderful Florida region with you!
For some photos from Florida Fish-In '05,
click
HERE. (See what you missed?)
If you do plan on making it to the Florida FISH-IN
2006, drop an email to:
publisher@flyanglersonline.com and she will
put your name on the I'm Going List! Please say
Florida Fish-In in your email.
Please contact me by e-mail with any questions,
ideas, you may have. ~ Dave (saltydancindave@earthlink.net)
I'M GOING LIST!
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